Image by Alex Haney, from Unsplash
Why Time Spent Gaming Isn’t Enough To Predict Addiction, New Research Shows
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
A new study found that high-risk gamers, who may be developing problematic gaming habits, show very different attention patterns compared to esports players, even though both groups spend a similar amount of time gaming.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Esports gamers’ attention patterns resembled casual gamers despite similar gaming hours.
- High-risk gamers displayed higher impulsivity and problematic internet use symptoms.
- Gaming duration alone isn’t a reliable sign of addiction risk, researchers say.
The research, published in Computers in Human Behavior , used eye-tracking technology to reveal how gamers focus on gaming-related images.
“This study was motivated by our observations of two seemingly similar yet psychologically distinct groups: esports gamers and high-risk gamers,” explained study authors Shan-Mei Chang and Zheng-Hong Guan, as reported by Psy Post .
“While both groups spend comparable amounts of time gaming, esports gamers often view gaming as a structured career, whereas high-risk gamers typically play to escape real-life stressors,” they added.
The researchers worked with 47 male gamers between 15 and 19 years old. They divided them into three groups: esports players, casual gamers, and high-risk gamers, based on their gaming experience and scores on the Internet Gaming Disorder Test.
Using eye-tracking devices, they measured how long participants looked at gaming images compared to neutral ones.
The results showed that high-risk gamers looked at gaming images for longer periods, stared at them for longer during their first glance, and moved their eyes less often between images. In contrast, esports players and casual gamers showed no special preference for gaming pictures.
“We expected that esports gamers, given their extensive gaming involvement, might also show attentional biases,” Chang and Guan said, as reported by Psy Post. “However, their eye-movement patterns were more similar to those of casual gamers, suggesting their high gaming time is not driven by compulsive cravings,” they added.
Self-reports also showed that while esports players and high-risk gamers spent similar hours gaming, high-risk gamers had higher impulsivity and more signs of internet addiction.
“A major takeaway is that gaming duration alone is not a reliable indicator of addiction risk,” the researchers explained, as reported by Psy Post. “Our findings caution against diagnosing gaming disorder based solely on time spent gaming.”
They hope future tools combining eye-tracking with psychological tests will better detect early signs of gaming problems. “By shifting focus from ‘how much they play’ to ‘why they play,’ we can more effectively understand and support at-risk youth in digital environments,” they said, reported Psy Post.
Image by ThreeBody, from Unsplash
FBI Offers $10 Million Bounty For Chinese Hackers
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The FBI is offering a $10 million reward for information about Chinese hackers from Salt Typhoon, responsible for cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- FBI confirms $10 million reward for tips on Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon.
- Salt Typhoon is linked to China’s Ministry of State Security.
- Hackers targeted U.S. telecom networks, stealing call logs and private communications.
The FBI has confirmed it is offering a $10 million reward for information about members of a Chinese hacking group called Salt Typhoon . This group is linked to China’s Ministry of State Security and has been responsible for several serious cyberattacks on U.S. targets.
Salt Typhoon, also known by other names like FamousSparrow, Ghost Emperor, and UNC2286, has attacked presidential campaign iPhones and exposed major weaknesses in U.S. telecommunications systems over the past six months, as previously reported by The Wall Street Journal .
The FBI says these hackers are behind a broad campaign to steal sensitive data, including call logs and private communications, from American companies and citizens.
In their public alert, the FBI said it is seeking “information about foreign government-linked individuals participating in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.” It also emphasized wanting tips about “specific individuals behind the campaign.”
The FBI investigation revealed that Salt Typhoon gained access to telecom networks to obtain private information, and used it to attack victims across the globe.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI, file a report on the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov , or reach out anonymously via Signal or a Tor-based tip line.
The reward offer is part of the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program. For more details on how to qualify for the $10 million bounty, visit the program’s website .
“If you have any information about the individuals who comprise Salt Typhoon or other Salt Typhoon activity, we would particularly like to hear from you,” the FBI said.
